Clarke welcomes youth employment scheme

Alliance Newcastle Councillor Patrick Clarke has welcomed the launch of the Youth Employment Scheme by the Minister for Employment and Learning Stephen Farry MLA.

The scheme contains a series of initiatives aimed at getting those not in education, employment or training aged 16 – 24 into employment. Around £41 million will be spent on this scheme over the next three years.

Speaking to Newry Times, Clarke said: “I very much welcome this multi million pound investment in employment and training for young people. There are a large amount of young people who have found it difficult to enter employment as they lack the necessary skills or work experience. It is rightly being treated as a priority issue by the Employment and Learning Minister. Considering that this age group represents around 28% of jobseekers claimants, it shows that while we should be trying to cut all unemployment, it does makes sense to target them.”

He added, “With this concentration of so many young people out of work, we could face long term problems if we do not intervene now.”